MICHAEL ON THE MAP

In this series I will be traveling to the towns of northeastern Georgia and western North and South Carolina, sharing my adventures and discoveries as I meet the locals who make up the area. Hop in my Jeep and let’s hit the road!

Take 12: Toccoa, GA

Heading into March, what was projected to be perhaps the coldest winter on file in ages did not quite turn out that way in North Georgia. Meager dustings of snow presented themselves, but it was nothing compared to the blizzard scenario that befell our area of southern Appalachia in 2022. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, but we had a significantly unseasonal warm spell and there were already daffodils blooming. As I write this, it’s cold again, the daffodils are drooping, and I’m holed up in my cabin with a fire and hot tea. Where a week ago I wanted to grill out, now I want to make a big pot of soup.

Mother Nature had continued her typical shenanigans, that baffling little biddy.

And so, for March – having shared my travels with you over the last year and some change – where was I to go next, I pondered. And then I came across some of the more fascinating historical information I had thus far collected for the series, and set my sights on the city of Toccoa, GA, with The Smiths as my morning soundtrack.

The seat of Stephens County and having a 2023 population of 9,325, the city sits in a far northeast pocket of Georgia near the border of South Carolina. Its namesake comes from the Cherokee word “Tagwâ′hĭ”, meaning “beautiful” or “where the Catawbas lived”, and Toccoa’s unrivaled geographical centerpiece is the strikingly dramatic Toccoa Falls, a 186foot sheer vertical drop from an overhanging cliff into a peaceful pool below. Situated on the campus of Toccoa Falls College, getting to the falls is an easy short stroll along Toccoa Creek, accessible through the Gate Cottage and Toccoa Falls Books and Gifts store.

After my visit to the falls – which is not to be missed if you are in the area – I was off to meet with Julie Paysen, Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President. Sitting down with her in her office housed in Toccoa’s original train depot – which is now a stop on Amtrak’s Crescent Line which runs from New York to New Orleans (Amtrak just put $2 million into it) – I asked her what makes her city stand out.

“What makes us different is the people. There is a sense of community here that I think is hard to find in our culture anymore. Everyone is always so busy and on the go. There is just a sense of home here that is getting harder to find in today’s busy world,” she shared. Continuing, “We have great bones in our downtown as far as the structure goes. There is a square and people are walking around and waving and saying hello. Southern hospitality is right in the midst.”

Something else exciting that makes Toccoa stand out is their flourishing role in the film industry. In the last seven years, seven movies have been filmed there.

“We have really found a niche in the family friendly segment, and we’ve stuck by it because it has generated such community support. So that’s something we’re proud of. When everyone is excited about what you’re doing, and to witness the economic development it brings to our community, that’s something I’m just so thrilled with. It’s been a really fun adventure,” Julie said.

During the production of Toccoa’s most recent film venture – The Mulligan –the comment was even made by one of the directors, ‘In Georgia, you’re filming in Atlanta, in Savannah, and Toccoa.” Exciting times for this area, indeed.

Speaking of exciting times of the past and of celebrity lure, a quick visit to Paul Anderson Memorial Park was next in the cards. Known by locals as “The Strongest Man in the World”, his bronze statue rises like a phoenix from the center of a fountain and gives you a life-size replica look at the former Toccoa native whose accolades include Olympic Gold Medalist, World Champion, and two-time National Champion is Olympic weightlifting.

Leaving Paul, it was time for lunch, and I headed just up the street to Rampage and Roses (also known as R and R Prime) for a bite to eat. The place had come highly recommended, so I was excited to see what the fuss was about. Striking up a conversation with co-owner Sarah Addison, she explained to me what makes her establishment unique.

“Our menu is a little elevated compared to other places around town, and we did that on purpose. We wanted to offer a slightly different experience, and that goes for our cocktails as well. I think we offer a little more edge, but we are still a casual and comfortable atmosphere for families and friends alike to enjoy,” Sarah said.

Offering farm to table and made from scratch selections and utilizing local produce, Sarah and her husband Derek strive to support the community, bringing the freshest ingredients from their kitchen to your table. I started with the gouda and pimento cheese poppers – served with fig jam – and they were fantastic. I followed this with the Steak House Burger, which is 8 oz of prime angus beef, cheddar cheese, fried onion straws, and A.1. sauce (though I opted for a side of BBQ instead), and brussels sprouts, which are blanched and then pan seared with maple butter and bacon. It was all so delicious. They also have great coleslaw if you yourself are also a fan.

Rampage is the name of Derek and Sarah’s bull, and their daughter – only 10 at the time – designed the restaurant’s logo. They added “Roses” to the name after “Rampage” had been decided, to kind of extend a more representative name for their product.

Another Toccoa staple – who is moving to a new, upgraded location just down the street – beautifully showcases their interior design expertise and was having a great sale on home furnishings when I visited. You must stop into Angel Oak Home if you are looking for décor inspiration for your new or longstanding home in the area, or to take something with you when you travel back after visiting our beloved southern Appalachia.

Toccoa also offers plenty of other opportunities for adventure in its many hiking trails, and visitors to the area may also want to check out Currahee Vineyard, the Currahee Military Museum, the Historic Ritz Theatre, Lake Toccoa, Tugaloo Bend Heritage Park, the Toccoa Raceway, and its great options for golfing. Traveler’s

Rest State Historic Site is an early 19th century stagecoach inn and plantation house, now open to the public as a museum. Camp Toccoa at Currahee maintains the site where in July 1942, 5,000 men arrived for World War II training as new type of soldier – a paratrooper. The Parachute Infantry Division would come to be known as the “Toccoa Men’, who would be depicted in the HBO series Band of Brothers.

And with that… Until we meet again, and more flowers have made their way to the surface of this great Earth, I did make that big pot of soup. And I leave you with The Smiths:

So if there’s something you’d like to try | If there’s something you’d like to try | Ask me, I won’t say no, how could I?